E-Commerce and the Death of the Retail Store - Research Paper Example

E-Commerce E-commerce Currently it is evident that historical stores in America are being closed because of the advantaged competition E-commerce and on-line businesses offers. Many people prefer ecommerce to traditional stores because E-commerce provides more efficient and timely consumer to consumer and business to consumer interaction via a portal. It also provides a costumer with an electronic form of paying their bills, shopping search engine, and data cloud computing service which entails that they do not have to move in order to acquire or pay for their goods. However, despite the positive advantages e-commerce offers consumers in the world today, it has also had negative ramification that has seen the collapse of traditional historical stores. Therefore, it would be wise if all stores embrace the new culture and market for their goods online For instance, it is easy to blame firms such Amazon and eBay for the collapse of most traditional bookstores. Broadly speaking it is true that that independent and local retailers have failed to adapt to challenges they have faced over the pars five decades because on the instant change in consumer behavior that E-commerce has caused. I was only a few yet ago when Companies such as HMV were accused of profiteering over other retailers and now they are victims to ecommerce. They have fallen foul to the efficiency and effectiveness that online shopping marketers provide. It is also evident that most current down town and high street stores are under siege to online retailers. For example, brick and mortar business are currently at the edge been dissolved due to the economies of large scale and lack of effective strategies when distributing their product. What they always fail to realize is that if they market through the internet or advertise their product online they will be able to determine their unique strong market points. It will also reduce the expenses of transporting products to different areas so as to search for its market. (Naughto, J. 2000). Also change in consumer behavior as result of E-commerce has made them not to re that despite the good experience that online marketing and purchase can offer; it is nothing comparable to the shopping expire nice traditional sores offered. Moreover, can it replace three slightest experiences and pleasure that handling and accessing a product offered? This makes consumes to prejudice and shun from physically visiting shopping store despite the good services that might be on offer. (Ellis, S. 2014). E-commerce also offers customers with relatively fair prices as compared to the traditional stores. This is because the cost of production and distribution of online marketing is usually lower and business person’s only need to open a portal were they can communicate with their clients. Since it is almost impossible for retail to rethink on how they can fix prices as fair as theirs online competitors and at the same time make profit, they are forced only to follow one way and that is dissolution. (Reynold, J. 2004). According to current surveys it was identified that over the past few years, E-commerce has taken over the traditional stores. This is because, E-commerce has claimed over three-quarter of the market share the stores used to depend on. Change in consumer preference has made most customers believe it’s only through online website they can choose from variety of goods and find exactly what they want. Also to add to it, they can easily compare prices buy what they think they can Affords and have it delivered to their door save money. These among others are the major factors that make traditional stores existence be threatened. It is impossible for a typical retailing store to compete with a highly ranked e-commerce portal because of is minimal production and distribution costs. However traditional stores could also have a share in the market if they in-cooperate e-commerce in their day to day activities. This wills also make them learn more about what their customers want. There is a problem sequence that anyone who wants to open an online shop needs to follow for guaranteed success. To begin with one has to identify a need and how they can fill it. The worst mistake a business can make is looking at the products first then later research its market. To boost chances of being successful, a business must research for a group of people who have a problem and provide them with solution. Using the internet this can be relatively easier. (Tobin, L. 2012). Secondly the business should write advertisement copies that are attractive and contains what consumers in their target market needs to hear i.e. they should tell their target marker the services they offer or problems that they can solve .The copy that will sale their product should contain an attractive headline, a body that describe the services to the consumer and testimonies of people that the store has already served. It should also contain additional information’s such as offers, benefits to the user among other relevant once. (Holden, G. 2010). The third and most essential step is to open a website; this is after the business has determined the market and product they are going to major on. In designing a website there various issues that the business must first consider. They should ensure that they design a website that is simple but attractive in that it can attract someone’s attention in five seconds. Some things to keep in mind are to choose two fonts on the white background make navigation through the website very simple, use graphic audio or video so as to enhance the message. The next step that firms should take after designing the website is to search for search engines to drive consumers in the newly formed website. Pay per click is the most6 attractive such engine that is recommended when a online store what to drive traffic into their new website.. This is considered advantageous than just waiting for traffic to originally come by itself. After using search engines to drive traffic into the newly formed website, the business is expected to develop an expert reputation of it. (Holden, G. 2010). Most people currently use the internet in order to get information. When a business provides its information, free in such sights it becomes reputable. Business is encouraged to develop an expert reputation of itself especially in well ranking search engines. Then after developing the reputation, the business should also use the power of marketing to turn the website visitors into customers. When a business build an opt list, they are creating one of the most valuable business in online business. From their visitors and customers can give you permission to send them e-mail. The last step is to increase sells through back up sales and up selling. One of best business strategies is to develop a lifetime customer value. After that the customers 2will always be buying from the business and may even end up being loyal. Some of the things that the firm unsure to gain customer loyalty is to offer prices that compliment the product or service real value send electronic loyalty and offer related product. Despite the positive advantages e-commerce offers consumers in the world today, it has also had negative ramification that has seen the collapse of traditional historical stores. Therefore, it would be wise if all stores embrace the new culture and market for their goods online. References Tobin, L. (2012). Entrepreneur: How to start an online Business. New York: Capstone publisher. Holden, G.(2010). Starting an online Business for dummies. Colombia: For dummies. Naughto, J.(2000). A brief history of the future: Origin of the internet. London. Phoenix. Reynold, J. (2004). The complete e-commerce book: Design, Build & maintain a successful web-based Business. Carlifornia: CRC Press. Ellis, S. (2014).Startup Growth Engines: Case studies. California. CRC press Read More